suspension help puh lease

[DangerRanger3]

my 96 ranger rides a little rough as is, so I figured maybe I would buy some new front shocks and that would help, but i need some recommendations on what to buy, I was looking at the skyjacker hydro 7000 and figured that might be the way to go, and then if i ever do get a lift i got the shocks already. So basically if anybody has any opinions on this i would love to hear them, or if anybody knows a better way to smooth out my ride that works too. Also, i'm trying to keep it cheap, i figure new front shocks will be like 100 bucks tops and i can do the install.

vehicle details - 96 ranger 2WD 3.0L V6, all stock other than wheels and tires

 

[KELLY88]

Skyjacker shocks are a good choice. I'd make sure your shocks are bad before replacing them first though. Rough ride can also be the result of a tire out of balance, tires misaligned or bad bushings.

 

[DangerRanger3]

hmmm thanks for the input, my tires are only a year old and i get them rotated regularly so i would think they are okay, but ill look into the bushings thing, also i dont think the shocks are bad per say, i mean i only have 43k miles on the truck...i just figured the stock shocks from 96 wouldn't be the smoothest to begin with, also i would say the ride is okay as is, its only when i hit a good bump on the road that i really get jolted, and the roads around here have a lot of those good bumps hah, so im just tryin to make it a better daily driver, skyjacker sure seems like the way to go with front shocks though, i hear only good things

 

[DangerRanger3]

i actually have another more specific question about shocks, i was actually thinking about getting the skyjacker nitro 8000, but then i also saw the edelbrock performer IAS shocks, the skyjacker are almost half the price, but it seems like people are nuts about the edelbrock shocks, just figured id try to get some opinions from people who mightve tried them out first hand, thanks

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

... skyjacker hydro 7000 ... and then if i ever do get a lift i got the shocks already. ...

Just because you would have skyjacker shocks doesn't mean they would fit your truck stock and then lifted. Those are 2 different sizes...

 

[DangerRanger3]

Just because you would have skyjacker shocks doesn't mean they would fit your truck stock and then lifted. Those are 2 different sizes...

Yeah i guess i shouldve specified that if i ever do get a lift in the front it would only be 2" to level my ride out, and the skyjacker shocks supposedly work as desired with 0-2" of lift, whereas i've heard that the stock shocks have issues with a 2" front lift

 

[DangerRanger3]

i did a little more research today, and from my understanding shocks don't so much absorb the shock from bumps as they do absorb the bounce from the springs after you hit a bump, so i would think new shocks would be necessary only if the truck sways from side to side after a bump, my truck does not have this issue, it primarily just gives one good loud jolt when i hit a bump, like the suspension is too stiff, so.....my question is are new shocks still the way to go?

also, i dont know much about this stuff, so feel free to correct me if im wrong, im learning more everyday on this website

 

[NewRangerGuy]

That's not true at all... they are responsible for damping in both directions. If you had no compression damping and you hit a large bump you would blow through your suspension travel instantly and bottom out hard. Also, because rebound damping slows the wheel's return your suspension would always be riding well into its stroke since there would be nothing to stop it from getting shoved right up into your wheel wells.

Mostly, spring rates are chosen to get a vehicle at a particular ride height for it's weight, then the job of suspension action is left to the valving. If you have proper ride height but are bottoming out too easily... you increase the compression damping to slow the wheels willingness to be pushed up. The last thing you do is use stiffer springs.... this will actually make things worse as suspension without proper static sag can not do its job properly and will provide almost nothing in the way of bottoming resistance.

The back end on my 96 XLT is sprung to handle a load.... therefore with nothing in the back it is sprung far too stiff for a smooth ride. Also, I noticed there is next to nothing in rebound damping which is half the equation. When you have way too much spring and no rebound damping you have a terrible feeling back that is harsh and easily made squirly.

I do not carry heavy loads, just a 200lb motocross bike, and I am for more interested in having a controlled smooth ride. Therefore for the back end I will go with Sensatrac because they are supposed to provide a smooth ride like a car has. The next stiffest they offer is the Reflex which I know very little about. It's too bad there is no one with a back to back comparison experience. I suspect they will provide a superior ride when compared to stock though but may not as 'smooth' as the Sensatracs.

I suspect I will use Sensatracs all round.